He really ought not to have done it.

Did he think--did he flatter himself--that if she had expected he was going to act just like all the rest of them she would have treated him as she had?
Did he fancy his well-planned declaration would flatter _her_?
Could he not see that she wanted to consider him always as a friend, that she thought she had found at last what she had so often dreamed of--a friendship proof against passion?
It was so common, so commonplace.

It was worse, for it was taking a cruel advantage of the narrow limits within which they were both confined.

Besides, he had taken advantage of her kindness to plan a scene which he knew would surprise her out of herself.

She ought to have spoken strongly and sharply and made him suffer for his sin while he was yet red-handed.